About this site
Overview, features and application details
SAPS is recruiting 5,500 entry-level police trainees for 2026/2027. Applications opened 21 October 2026 and close 13 November 2026 on the official SAPS eRecruitment portal. Applying is free.
The South African Police Service is recruiting 5,500 entry-level police trainees for the 2026/2027 financial year. The nationwide drive opened on 21 October 2026 and applications close on 13 November 2026. Every application goes through one place: the official SAPS eRecruitment portal at erecruitment.saps.gov.za.
Who can apply
You must be a South African citizen aged 18 to under 35, with Grade 12 or an equivalent qualification. You need to be physically, medically and mentally fit, have no criminal record and no pending criminal cases, and be proficient in English and at least one other official language. Graduates in fields such as law, policing, criminology, forensic investigation and information technology may also be considered for specialised environments, including the DPCI (the Hawks), detective and forensic services, and crime intelligence.
How to apply
Create a profile on the eRecruitment portal and verify your account with the code SAPS emails you. Then follow the step-by-step process for the trainee posts and submit before the closing date. One application only — submitting more than once does not help you. Keep a screenshot or copy of your confirmation.
Watch out for scams
SAPS recruitment is free. No fee is payable to anyone at any stage, and no trainee post is for sale. Type the portal address yourself instead of trusting links forwarded on social media, because fake recruitment pages copy the look of official ones every intake. If the portal gives you trouble, SAPS publishes technical-help contacts on the portal itself — use those, not a stranger offering to "fix" your application for money.
What happens next
Shortlisted applicants go through the SAPS selection process, which includes fitness and medical assessments. Successful recruits train as police trainees — press reports put the training stipend at R5,000 a month, with shorter training for recruits who already hold relevant NQF Level 6 or higher qualifications.
Our SAPS recruitment 2026 guide tracks the drive and the closing date in more detail.
APK01 is an independent guide and is not affiliated with SAPS. Apply only at erecruitment.saps.gov.za — applications are free.
